The Abandoned

PREVIEWS

The Guardian – Pick of the Day

Ade Adepitan investigates the appalling conditions in Mexican mental hospitals and the organisation that is trying to effect change in them. Collectivo Chucan is a pressure group with a difference: all of its members have their own mental health issues. As Adepitan discovers when he follows them on a fact-finding mission, this makes their campaigns all the more courageous. Neglect, poor sanitation and even rape are common in these facilities; the group’s doing all it can to hold the authorities responsible to account.

The Daily Telegraph – What to watch

This investigative series makes for grim but thoughtful viewing.Tonight Paralympic medallist Ade Adepitan and a group of former patients gain access to psychiatric institutions in Mexico and secretly film the often terrible conditions.

The Sentinel – Switch On

Unreported World gains access to Mexico’s psychiatric institutions to secretly film the horrific and inhumane conditions endured by the thousands of men and women known as ‘The Abandoned Ones’.

Thirteen years ago, an investigation by Disability Rights International documented atrocious conditions inside psychiatric institutions in Mexico. The government promised to act, and spearheaded the creation of a UN convention to protect the rights of the disabled. But UnreportedWorld reveals the situation for many patients is still horrific. Thousands have been abandoned by families who couldn’t afford the high cost of drugs or cope with their disabilities. They spend their days in deeply disturbing conditions, with nothing to do and no meaningful treatment or rehabilitation. Without families to help, it’s a life sentence. In one hospital, two women are found tied to wheelchairs with no nurses in sight.

Meanwhile, human rights groups have gathered numerous reports of rape and sexual abuse in institutions across the country.

Sunday Independent – Best of the Week

The documentary series takes a look at disability tonight, but from a different angle and in a country far from Britain. With a group of Mexican former patients, well-known activist and actor Ade Adepitan goes into that country’s psychiatric hospitals and endeavours to find out if the horror stories he has heard about them are true. What he finds does not make for pleasant viewing.

The Guardian – Watch This

Ade Adepitan investigates the appalling conditions in Mexican mental hospitals and the organisation trying to effect change in them. Collectivo Chucan is a pressure group with a difference: all of its members have their own mental health issues. As Adepitan learns when he joins them on a fact-finding mission, this makes their campaigns all the more courageous. Neglect, poor sanitation and even rape are common in these facilities.

The Express – Pick of the Day

Thirteen years ago an investigation uncovered atrocious conditions in Mexico’s psychiatric wards. The government promised to act and spearheaded the creation of a UN convention to protect the rights of the disabled. Reporter Ade Adepitan (left) gained access to Mexico’s psychiatric institutions and secretly filmed the horrific conditions still endured by the thousands of men and women known as the Abandoned Ones.

The Observer – Pick of the Day

Mexico: The Abandoned. Ade Adepitan gains access to Mexico’s psychiatric institutions to report on the inhumane conditions endured by the thousands of men and women known as “the abandoned ones”, who spend their days with nothing to do and no meaningful treatment or rehabilitation. Shocking.